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T able o f C O N T E N T S
STARTING LINEUP
22 GEM OF A DEFENSEMAN
Veteran Garnet Exelby has polished his play over
the years to become a dependable defenseman
coveted by coaches.

22

30 A MATTER OF TIME
The more minutes under his belt, the more
likely that center Joakim Andersson will earn
a job in Detroit.
40 OPPORTUNITY ROCKS!
The Griffins Youth Foundation gives kids of
all types a chance to play hockey.
44 AMPLIFYING TALENTS
Defenseman Brian Lashoff is making noise this
season by playing to his strengths.
50 OVERSEAS SUCCESS
A number of former Griffins have enjoyed
success over the years playing in Europeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s
top hockey leagues.

Veteran Garnet Exelby
has earned a reputation
as a hard-hitting,
dependable defender.
Photo by Mark Newman

Griffiti magazine is published four times a year by the Grand Rapids Griffins, Van Andel Arena,
130 W. Fulton St., Grand Rapids, MI 49503. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in
part without permission is prohibited. All contents ÂŠ2012 Grand Rapids Griffins.
For advertising information, contact Griffins Sales & Marketing, (616) 774-4585; fax
(616) 336-5464. Unsolicited manuscripts and other materials will not be returned.

50

Grand Rapids Griffins 1

upcoming home
opponents &

Players to
watch

HAMILTON (Feb. 3, Feb. 4, Feb. 22)
The Bulldogs are seeing steady
improvement by Swedish import
Andreas Engqvist (#22), an undrafted
prospect who is known for his strong
two-way play. The 24-year-old center
has been scoring at a point-per-game
pace after tallying only 25 points in 71
games during his first season in North
America a year ago. He made his NHL
debut with the Montreal Canadiens in
January 2011.

HOUSTON (Feb. 10, Feb. 11)
The Aeros have been encouraged by
the steady work of Colorado College
product Kris Fredheim (#7), a 24-yearold defenseman who is responsible in his
zone and rarely caught out of position. A
sixth-round pick (185th overall) by the
Vancouver Canucks in the 2005 NHL
Entry Draft, Fredheim isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t afraid to use
his lanky 6-foot-2, 192-pound frame
to his advantage. The British Columbia
native made his NHL debut with the
Minnesota Wild this past November.

SAN ANTONIO (Feb. 12)
The Rampage are excited to have Steve
Sullivan (#37) back in the fold after their
NHL affiliate Florida Panthers reacquired
the 27-year-old defenseman in a Jan. 26 trade
that shipped Tim Kennedy to the San Jose
Sharks. A former team captain for Boston
University, Sullivan is in his fifth professional
season, his first three coming in San Antonio.
In 2009-10, he led all Rampage defensemen
with a career-high 49 points, eighth best
among AHL blueliners.
2 Grand Rapids Griffins

PEORIA (Feb. 18)
The Rivermen continue to see good things
from St. Louis Blues prospect Tyler Shattock
(#26), who was a fourth-round pick (#108
overall) in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.
The 21-year-old forward has good size (6foot-3, 200-pounds) and a heavy shot that
produced a 30-goal season at the junior
level. A native of Vernon, British Columbia,
Shattock can play all three forward positions
and has started to show that he can find the
back of the net in the pros.

LAKE ERIE (Feb. 24)
The Monsters are sharpening the tools
of 21-year-old defenseman Cameron
Gaunce (#24), a gritty, physical player
who appeared in 11 NHL games with
the Colorado Avalanche last season. A
second-round pick (50th overall) in the
2008 NHL Entry Draft, the 6-foot-1, 203pound Gaunce brings a strong competitive
streak and solid work ethic to the rink.
He recorded his first NHL goal against
Pittsburgh Penguins goalie Marc-Andre
Fleury in February 2011.

ROCHESTER (March 2)
The Americans have been pleasantly surprised
by the play of right winger Evan Rankin (#15),
who tallied seven goals and five assists in
13 games before being injured on Dec. 27.
Rankin had 10 goals in 15 contests with the
ECHLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Toledo Walleye earlier this season
when Rochester signed the Portage native
and former Griffin to a tryout contract.
Rankin, 25, who played his college hockey
at the University of Notre Dame, appeared
in 10 games with Grand Rapids last season,
registering a goal and an assist.

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 3)
The Barons feel they have a future star in
21-year-old left winger Teemu Hartikainen
(#10), a native of Kuopio, Finland, who
represented his country in the 2009 and 2010
World Junior Championships. The 6-foot-1,
215-pound prospect recorded eight goals and
seven assists in his first 24 games this season
after appearing in 12 NHL games (three
goals, two assists) with the Edmonton Oilers
a year ago. Hartikainen was the AHLâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s rookie
of the month in January 2011.
Grand Rapids Griffins 3

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CHALK TALK
w i t h G r i f f ins h ea d c oa c h Cu r t F r ase r
A day in the life of a professional hockey player starts
long before the puck is dropped to begin a game.
The runup to the game starts much earlier in the day
when players come to the rink for the morning skate, a
brief (usually less than an hour) but spirited session to
get them going.
“Coaches look at morning skates differently,” said
Griffins head coach Curt Fraser. “Are they important?
I think so. It’s all about starting your preparation early
in the day to get yourself ready for the challenges that
lie ahead in the game that night.”
Some coaches look at morning skates as almost
superfluous, a tedious going-through-the-motions
activity that they could easily do without, but Fraser
and assistant coach Jim Paek see it as an opportunity to
get their team going in the right direction.
“We’ll work on three or four things to get us
prepared for that evening,” Fraser said. “Sometimes
they might be drills to sharpen their skills, other times
we introduce things that are specific to the opponent
for the night.”
While the players leave the rink to go home to
get a good meal and a good rest before the game, the
Griffins’ coaches will watch the other team’s morning
skate. “We’re looking at their lineup, watching their
line combinations, anything that will help us,” Fraser
said. “Sometimes the things you see in the morning can
help you at night.”
Players usually start arriving back at the rink late in
the afternoon and are prepared to meet about an hour
before the game in the Griffins’ dressing room.
“We’ll go over the other team’s tendencies on the
power play, penalty kill and faceoffs,” Fraser said.
“We’ll look at video to review some of the things that
the guys might see from the opponent that night.”
Various video clips are assembled from recent
games to demonstrate the coaches’ message, which
usually runs five to seven minutes.
“We’ll quickly go over three or four points that we
feel we need to stress for ourselves to be successful
against the team that we’re facing,” Fraser said. “Then
it’s up to the guys to get ready to prepare themselves
during the warmup before the game.”
Although Fraser and Paek stand behind the bench
during the pregame warmup, the time is mainly for
players to get themselves loose and ready for a quick
start.

Once the game gets underway, the pace of the
contest means there is little time for coaching, other
than a few words of instruction here and there.
Between periods, the coaches will sometimes offer
words of advice, but not always.
“When you have a lot of young players, you have
to reinforce what you’re trying to do on the ice, at least
structurally,” Fraser said. “Early in the year, you have to
remind them about things that you’re trying to put into
place from a systems standpoint.”
As the season progresses, intermissions are usually
reserved for adjustments. “We might have to tweak
something, whether it means adding an element or taking
something away from our approach,” Fraser said.
“As we get deeper into the season, our players get
better at being able to change. The more you preach
something, the more easily it is grasped by the players.
We can change from one period to the next, and that’s
huge when you get to the playoffs.”
There is not a lot of yelling and screaming, although
the tone is usually serious. “We try to take some
positives from their play on the ice and mix in some
things that we need to do better,” he said.
A game is an exercise in preparation. “By the time
they hit the ice, players should know what they have to
do,” Fraser said. “As the play progresses, you look for
things that you need to adjust. You make adjustments
after the first period and again after the second,
depending on whether you are up or down a goal. It’s
little things, like protecting the puck when you’re ahead
or taking smart chances if you’re behind.”
Following the game, the players will cool down,
sometimes with a workout if they have the next day
off, or with a meal in the dressing room if they have to
catch a bus or flight for a game the next night.
“It’s not an easy schedule, and with all the travel it’s a
challenge for the younger guys who are not accustomed
to playing so many games,” Fraser said. “The schedule
is very demanding, but
players quickly learn the
things they need to do,
not only to succeed in the
games but to maintain their
fitness level from day to day
to keep themselves sharp.
It’s all a process. You have
to find a way.”

Grand Rapids Griffins 5

Coming Attractions
PURPLE PASSION
In the pantheon of potent pigments, purple
has prevailed as a hue in a princely position.
Purple, of course, has been the favored color
of royalty for hundreds of years. In 1955, it was
the subject of Crockett Johnson’s children book
“Harold And The Purple Crayon.” It also inspired
Sheb Wooley’s No. 1 smash, “Purple People Eater,”
which Minnesota Vikings fans later equated with the
formidable foursome of Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, Alan
Page and Gary Larsen. There’s the U.S. military’s Purple
Heart, Alice Walker’s novel “The Color Purple,” and
music’s “Purple Haze,” “Purple Rain” and Deep Purple.
It’s enough to give people a case of
porphyrophobia (the fear of the color purple).
Locally, purple has been the adopted color
at sporting events promoting the fight against
cancer since 2009, when the Van Andel Institute
first benefitted from a fundraiser organized by
Grandville High School’s women soccer team.
More and more teams have rallied around the idea
of wearing purple jerseys to call attention to the worthy
cause, and the Griffins join the effort on Saturday, Feb.
18 with their own Community for a Cure Purple Game.
The Griffins will wear special purple jerseys that
will be signed by the players and auctioned off from
the Fifth Third Vault following the game to benefit
the Van Andel Institute. Ten thousand purple t-shirts
will be distributed, and the first 2,500 fans will also
receive a Van Andel Institute-themed rally towel.
Purple is likely to be a color in the palette
of performance painter extraordinaire Dan
Dunn, who will entertain fans during the second
intermission with his impressive Paintjam act.
The one-of-a-kind speed painter wows
audience with his high-energy, improvisational
style that has been featured on Late Night with
Jimmy Fallon and The Ellen DeGeneres Show.
His repertoire includes his artistic impressions of
an array of icons, including Elvis, Marilyn Monroe,

Wednesday is
Hockey Night!

Before and after every
Wednesday home game
from December through
February, show your ticket to that
night’s game to receive great food and drink specials at
participating Arena District restaurants and bars, including
Peppino’s Sports Lounge, home of the Griffins’ Wednesday
post-game parties. Visit griffinshockey.com/hockeynight for a
list of participating restaurants (subject to change).
6 Grand Rapids Griffins

Ray Charles, Albert Einstein and Willie Nelson.
Inspired by speed painter Denny Dent, who
died in 2004 at the age of 55 in the prime of his
career, Dunn saw his popularity skyrocket when
his daughter posted a YouTube video that has
received 13.4 million views. Today, Dunn paints at
more than 200 events per year all over the world.

BOBBLEHEAD GIVEAWAYS
Griffins fans can take advantage of a pair
of bobblehead giveaway nights when the
organization immortalizes former Griffins
defenseman Niklas Kronwall on Hockey Day
in West Michigan (presented by Lake Michigan
Credit Union) on Saturday, Feb. 4, and current
Griffins blueliner Brendan Smith on Sunday, Feb.
12 (presented by Michigan Office Solutions).
ANNUAL GRIFFINS VS. SLED WINGS GAME
Griffins players will shed their skates in favor of
sleds for their seventh annual sled hockey game on
Tuesday, Feb. 28 at Griff’s IceHouse in Grand Rapids.
The friendly but spirited competition will pit the
entire Griffins roster against the Sled Wings, a team
of physically challenged teenagers sponsored by the
Griffins Youth Foundation in partnership with Mary
Free Bed Rehabilitation Hospital. Festivities begin at
6 p.m., with the contest scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
STAR WARS NIGHT
The 501st Legion returns for another Star Wars
Night presented by Consumers Energy, with proceeds
benefiting the Griffins Youth Foundation. Over
50 costumed characters will be roaming the arena
and interacting with
fans. In addition to light
sabers and Griffins Star
Wars-themed pucks and
t-shirts being sold on the
concourse, photo areas
will be set up for fans to
get their picture taken with
their favorite characters
for a small donation.

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Free Ride Fridayâ&#x20AC;?
with Griffins ticket
before or after any
Griffins Home Game.
For more
information visit
griffinshockey.com/rapid

Wherever life takes you in the Grand Rapids metro area,
The Rapid has an easy, low-cost way to get you there.
For more information visit www.ridetherapid.org.

Grand Rapids Griffins 7

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Grand Rapids Griffins

8 Grand Rapids Griffins

2011-12

SEASON SCHEDULE
S

M

T

OCTOBER
W

T

F

S

S

M

NOVEMBER

1
2
9
RCH
6:05

3

4

10

11

17

HAM

HOU
6:05

24

30

31

S

M

7:30

25

5
12
19
26

6

7

W

7:00

20

OKC

OKC

20

27

ABB

MIL

OKC
5:00

S

8:00

7:00

M

5

6

W

M

T

7:00

24

JANUARY

8:05

LE

CHA

16

CHA

18

19

RCH

8:00

LE

7:30

7:00

7:30

3:00

7:00

22

23

24

22

29

PEO

MIL

29

30

31

S

M

T

7:00

6:00

T

F

S

HAM

23

24

7:00

W

T

F

S

4

5

ABB

ABB

HOU

12

TEX
7:00

14

LE

RCH

PEO

PEO

7:00

W

26

10:00

7:00

8:00

10:00

7:00

8:00

MARCH
T

F

S

1

RCH

OKC

HAM
5:00

5

6

TEX
8:30

8

9

HOU

7:00

16

17

PEO

HOU
6:05

12

TEX

14

15

TOR

HAM

23

LE

TOR

18

19

SA

7:00

21

8:00

HAM

3:00

30

7:00

HOU

21

8

TOR

HOU

14

HAM

22

28

7:00

9

20

3:00

26

21

7:35

2

13

M

OKC

HAM

7:00

8

5:00

S

MIL

16

1

19

TOR

17

15

7

CHI

27

RCH

SA

7:30

7:00

HAM

SA

26

HAM

7:00

7:00

FEBRUARY
T

10

3

15

S

RFD

10

RFD

7:00

Noon

9

13
27

8

2

12
26

CHA

8

CHI

LE

4

1

MIL

7:00

S

3

RFD

8

20

F

LE

CHI

1

ABB

T

7:00

S

7

25

8:00

14

W

1

F

6

19

8:00

7

T

T

5

7:00

13

15

DECEMBER
T

6

TOR

4
18

8:05

13

TOR

4:00

RFD

PRIMARY AFFILIATE OF
THE DETROIT RED WINGS

28

8:00

7:00

7:00

7:00

7:00

5:00

OKC

29

T

W

2

3

TEX

9

RCH
7:05

7:00

7:00

11

5:00

APRIL
T

F

S

5

TOR

TOR

12

CHI

HAM

7:00

7:00

3:00

7:00

Games
broadcast
live on

TO PURCHASE TICKETS OR
FOR MORE INFO, VISIT
GRIFFINSHOCKEY.COM
OR CALL 1.800.2.HOCKEY

Dear Grand Rapids Griffins Fans,
As we enter the 16th season of Griffins hockey, one theme keeps coming to my mind: the more things
change, the more they stay the same.
In June, we bid farewell to Bob McNamara, the only general manager our franchise had ever known and
now the president of our North Division rivals, the Hamilton Bulldogs. While we wish Bob nothing but
success – except for our 10 games against his new team this season – our hockey operation will, in many
ways, carry on much as it has the last several seasons.
As our 10-year affiliation with the Detroit Red Wings has evolved, they have assumed greater
responsibilities and a more active role in our hockey operations, to the point where they provided nearly
all of our players the last several seasons. This year, for the first time, they will supply or acquire every
player on the Griffins’ roster, with a steady supply of reinforcements coming through a re-emphasized
affiliation with the ECHL’s Toledo Walleye.
Detroit’s appreciation for its relationship with Grand Rapids, recently demonstrated by September’s
return of the Red & White Game after an eight-year absence, should also be reflected in the caliber of
veterans and rookies who will wear the Griffin this season. While we fully commit our roster to the Red
Wings, they continue to entrust our coaching staff – Curt Fraser, soon to be the winningest head coach
in Griffins history, and long-time assistant Jim Paek – with the crucial task of developing those prospects
into future NHL players.
More than ever, the success of the Griffins-Red Wings relationship will be evidenced at Joe Louis Arena.
Led by rising stars such as Jimmy Howard and Niklas Kronwall, at least 10 Griffins alumni are expected
to play prominent roles with Detroit this season. These players whom we’ve come to know so well at Van
Andel Arena are increasingly responsible for sustaining Detroit’s unmatched tradition of excellence.
Our arena is also where many retired legends of Hockeytown are staying involved in the game, as Chris
Chelios, Chris Osgood, Jiri Fischer and Aaron Downey frequently come here to work with our players
in their various coaching or player development capacities. Past Griffins are helping determine Detroit’s
present success, and former Red Wings are preparing Grand Rapids’ current players for their NHL
futures – just the way we dreamed it up back in 2002, and one more reason both teams are hopeful of
extending our affiliation for years to come.
On behalf of everyone in the Griffins organization, I thank you for your continued support and look
forward to experiencing the 2011-12 season with you.
Sincerely,

Dear Fans,
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to another exciting season of American Hockey League action. We are proud to be entering
our 76th season of continuous play, bringing a tradition of excellence and an entertaining, physical and highly skilled level of play
to more than 6 million hockey fans across North America annually.
Once again in 2011-12, there are 30 teams competing for the historic Calder Cup championship and all 30 National Hockey League
clubs are developing their top prospects and draft picks in the AHL. Last season more than 200 first- and second-round NHL draft
picks competed in the American Hockey League, and 338 players took the ice in both the AHL and the NHL.
This season brings a new look to the AHL landscape as we welcome the city of St. John’s, Newfoundland, back to the league,
with the St. John’s IceCaps set to take the ice at Mile One Centre for their inaugural campaign as the top affiliate of the NHL’s
Winnipeg Jets.
We continue to be proud of our tradition of developing the best hockey talent in the world, with over 87 percent of today’s NHL
players, coaches and officials having honed their skills in the American Hockey League, including reigning Vezina and
Conn Smythe Trophy winner Tim Thomas and 2011 NHL MVP Corey Perry. Our loyal and passionate fans through the years have
enjoyed cheering for more than 100 future Hockey Hall of Famers, and have rooted for more than 100 Calder Cup champions
who would go on to have their names engraved on the Stanley Cup as well.
The Binghamton Senators enter this season as the defending Calder Cup champions after capturing the city’s first-ever AHL title
last June. This year’s Senators are looking to hold off 29 other teams whose ultimate goal will also be the 2012 Calder Cup
championship.
We invite fans from across the league to join us at the world-famous Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J., on January 29 and 30 for
our annual celebration of AHL excellence, the 2012 AHL All-Star Classic -- featuring the Skills Competition, All-Star Game and AHL
Hall of Fame inductions.
On behalf of all of our teams, thank you again for your continuing support and I wish you the utmost enjoyment in following
your club through what is sure to be another terrific season.
Sincerely,

David A. Andrews
President & Chief Executive Officer
American Hockey League

2011-12
PLAYOFF
FORMAT
Eight teams in each conference
will qualify for the 2012 Calder
Cup Playoffs, with the three
division winners earning the top
three seeds and the next five best
teams in order of regular-season
points seeded fourth
through eighth.
The conference quarterfinals
will be best-of-five series; the
conference semifinals, conference
finals and Calder Cup Finals will
be best-of-seven series. Teams
will be re-ordered after the
first round so that the highestremaining seed plays the lowestremaining seed.

comerica.com

THE 2012 FORD EDGE | foxfordusa.com

The Edge gets noticed. It's just part of its nature. From the bold front grille through the fluid shapes and
smooth lines that run the length of its body, the Edge looks like nothing else on the road. With a sleek
roof, an aerodynamic shape and a commanding profile, the Edge is ready for action.

he American Hockey League is enjoying its 76th season
of play in 2011-12, continuing a tradition of excellence that
began in 1936 when the Canadian-American Hockey League
merged with the International Hockey League to form what
is today known as the AHL. Eight teams hit the ice that first
season, playing in Buffalo, Cleveland, New Haven, Philadelphia,
Pittsburgh, Providence, Springfield and Syracuse.
Frank Calder, the National Hockey League’s president at the
time, was instrumental in the forming of the new league, and his
name would be given to its championship trophy. The first Calder
Cup was won by the Syracuse Stars; the 75th championship
was captured by the Binghamton Senators last spring.

ver the past three-quarters of a century, the American Hockey League
has been home to some of the greatest players in the history of our sport.
In fact, more than 100 honored members of the Hockey Hall of Fame
have been affiliated with the AHL during their careers. All-time greats like
George Armstrong, Toe Blake, Gump Worsley, Terry Sawchuk, Glenn
Hall, Brad Park, Ken Dryden and Brett Hull came through the AHL ranks
and now find themselves enshrined in Toronto, and the coveted Calder Cup
trophy is inscribed with the names of legendary AHL alumni like Patrick
Roy, Larry Robinson, Gerry Cheevers, Andy Bathgate, Tim Horton, Al
Arbour, Emile Francis, Doug Harvey and Billy Smith.

T

he American Hockey League has created its own legends as well,
and in 2006 began honoring them with the formation of the AHL Hall of
Fame. The sixth class of inductees, recognized in 2011, included Mitch
Lamoureux, Harry Pidhirny, Maurice Podoloff and Larry Wilson. They
join the likes of Johnny Bower, Fred Glover, Jody Gage, Willie Marshall,
Frank Mathers, Eddie Shore, Bruce Boudreau, Tim Tookey and others
as distinguished members of the American Hockey League Hall of Fame.

In today’s National Hockey League, more than 87 percent of the players
are AHL alumni, including 2011 Hart Trophy recipient Corey Perry and
two-time Lady Byng Award winner Martin St. Louis. Three members
of the 2010 AHL All-Rookie Team -- John Carlson, P.K. Subban and
Logan Couture -- duplicated the feat in the NHL in 2010-11, and former
Calder Cup finalists Shea Weber and Pekka Rinne were among the
members of the NHL’s postseason First and Second All-Star Teams.

National Hockey League, including 320 who skated in both leagues last year
alone. Buffalo’s Thomas Vanek, Ottawa’s Jason Spezza and Philadelphia’s
Claude Giroux were among the 16 AHL graduates who led their NHL teams
in scoring, and former AHL All-Stars Jimmy Howard, Jaroslav Halak and
Miikka Kiprusoff were among the 27 AHL goaltending alumni who paced
their NHL clubs in victories. More than 200 former first- and second-round
draft picks developed their skills in the AHL last season, including breakout
rookies like Luke Adam, Zac Dalpe, Kyle Palmieri, Nazem Kadri and 2011
Calder Cup Playoffs MVP Robin Lehner.

Former AHL goaltender Tim Thomas
won the Vezina and Conn Smythe
trophies with the Stanley Cup
champion Boston Bruins in 2010-11.

At the start of the 2011-12 season, the NHL featured 23 head coaches who were former AHL bench

bosses, including the last seven Stanley Cup champions in Claude Julien (Boston, 2011), Joel Quenneville
(Chicago, 2010), Dan Bylsma (Pittsburgh, 2009), Mike Babcock (Detroit, 2008), Randy Carlyle (Anaheim,
2007), Peter Laviolette (Carolina, 2006) and John Tortorella (Tampa Bay, 2004). New head coaches in
the NHL this season include Florida’s Kevin Dineen, Dallas’s Glen Gulutzan, Minnesota’s Mike Yeo and
Winnipeg’s Claude Noel, all promoted from the AHL during the offseason.
“The American Hockey League has been essential in developing my potential both as a player and as a coach.
Being able to hone my skills and improve at a high level of competition was key to reaching my goals of playing in
the NHL, becoming a head coach and winning the Stanley Cup.”
-- Dan Bylsma, Head Coach, Pittsburgh Penguins
2011 Jack Adams Award Winner, 2010 Stanley Cup Champion

The 2010-11 season saw more than 6 million fans attend AHL games for
JustSports Photography

FANS

The Hershey Bears increased their attendance at Giant Center for the seventh
year in a row while leading the AHL for
the fifth consecutive season.

the 10th year in a row; since 2001, AHL games have been played before
more than 65 million fans in arenas across North America. The Hershey
Bears paced the league by averaging 9,800 fans per game last year, and
on Feb. 19 the Connecticut Whale drew 21,673 fans to a celebration of
hockey at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Conn., that included the second
outdoor game in AHL history.

STARS

The AHL All-Star Classic showcases the league’s top talent each year in

JustSports Photography/AHL

an All-Star Skills Competition and All-Star Game. The 2012 AHL All-Star
Classic will be held at historic Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, N.J.,
on January 29-30, featuring the Eastern Conference All-Stars battling the
Western Conference All-Stars in an event to be televised live across the
U.S. and Canada. Of the 562 players to take part in the AHL All-Star Classic
since 1995, more than 93 percent have competed in the National Hockey
League, including Brad Boyes, Dan Boyle, Daniel Briere, Brian Campbell,
Chris Kunitz, Ryan Miller, Zach Parise, Bobby Ryan, Jason Spezza, Eric
Staal and Tomas Vokoun.

Bobby Butler
2011 AHL All-Star Game MVP

Grand Rapids Griffins 19

It feels
good...
The Griffins have
numerous ways to help you
stay connected with your
team, both during games
and when you are away
from Van Andel Arena.
r song
You can now tweet you
a tweet
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We want to see your photos
from the game! Share your
pictures with us on our
Facebook wall for the
chance to win great
prizes all season
long.

20 Grand Rapids Griffins

...to connect
Check out our blog, Ha
lf Eagle, Half
Lion, All Griffin, and its
Afternoon Shift
posts for frequent com
pilations of links
to news, videos and fea
tures about the
Griffins and our NHL alu
mni gathered
from dozens of source
s across the web.
Go to grgriffins.wordp
ress.com.

Download the official Griffins
iPhone and Android app, featuring
schedule, roster, team and arena
information and more.
Visit griffinshockey.com/app.

Let your friends know
that you’re
at the game and tha
t they are
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e not here too
– check in when yo
u get here on
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ook
to get free stuff!

use
Twitter, make sure you
For our fans who use
ing
eet
tw
en
wh
the hashtag #goGRG
tweets will be
from the games. Your
or screen near
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projected onto
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Most importantly, introduce
yourself to your fellow fans sitting
around you, have a good time, and
cheer your hearts out for the Griffins!

Detroit

Red Wings

Photos: Getty Images

Griffins forwards Cory Emmerton, Tomas Tatar and Jan Mursak each
scored his first NHL goal while playing for the Red Wings last season.

Since the Grand Rapids-Detroit affiliation began in 2002, Griffins fans have proudly
watched 46 players move on to play for the Red Wings – including the likes of Jimmy Howard,
Justin Abdelkader, Jonathan Ericsson, Valtteri Filppula, Darren Helm, Jiri Hudler and Niklas
Kronwall – while also enjoying the opportunity to see some of Detroit’s brightest
stars play at Van Andel Arena during conditioning stints and Red & White Games.
TOP AFFILIATE

of a
Defenseman
Veteran Garnet
Exelby has polished
his play over the
years to become
a dependable
defenseman
coveted by
coaches.

Coaches can teach skating, stickhandling and
how to play defense, but one thing they can’t teach is
experience.
So when the Detroit Red Wings saw an opportunity
to add Garnet Exelby in the offseason, the NHL club
signed the veteran blueliner to provide depth within
the organization.
When he was assigned to Grand Rapids, Exelby was
a natural choice to become the captain of the Griffins.
He entered the 2011-12 season having played in 408
NHL games, nearly as many as his 22 other teammates
combined.
Griffins head coach Curt Fraser believes Exelby has
been everything he was advertised to be and more.
“I think he’s been even better than we thought,”
Fraser said. “He’s a good leader on the ice as well as in
the locker room. He’s been a real stabilizing force who
helps all of our young defensemen, plus he’s physical
and can find the back of the net once in a while, which
is a bonus.”
There’s no secret to why a player like Exelby is a
good fit on a young team like the Griffins. He is the
22 Grand Rapids Griffins

epitome of “what you see is what you get” – a strong
defenseman who isn’t afraid to pressure the opposition
and who likes to throw his weight around when the
opportunity presents itself.
“Overall, I’ve tried to become a steady, solid player,”
Exelby said. “If I can pitch in with other facets of the
game besides defense, I will. But for the most part, I just
want to be dependable.”
Exelby concedes that he is a better defenseman than
he was 10 years ago when he was a member of the
Calder Cup-winning Chicago Wolves as a rookie in
2001-02.
“Experience is obviously the best teacher,” he said. “I
think I’ve gotten better positionally, doing less running
around. I’m a little more patient now. I’m continually
trying to be more poised with the puck and make good
plays.”
Exelby, who grew up playing hockey on the western
prairies of Canada, developed a reputation that could
be traced, in part, to a strong work ethic. He also
has a knack for knocking the heads off unsuspecting
opponents with bone-crushing, open-ice hits.

There was one game in 2007, for example, when
Exelby leveled three Colorado Avalanche players in
the span of five seconds. Other YouTube staples show
the hard-hitting defenseman blasting Mats Sundin
and Miroslav Satan on separate occasions.
Now, at age 30, Exelby is careful to pick his spots.
He hasn’t become gun-shy, but he has learned that he
doesn’t want to punish his team by trying to put the
big hurt on an opponent.
“I still like to be physical, but the biggest thing
I’ve learned is that you’ve got to let the game come to
you,” he said. “You don’t need to be running around,
looking for hits. When you get a chance and the guy’s
got no way out, then you can put a good crack on him.
“You’ve got to look at the risk-reward and weigh
your options. It happens fast, but if you smell danger,
you probably should back off and assume a defensive
posture. It’s the best way to stay out of trouble.”
Exelby is trying his best to be a good example to
the Griffins’ young defensemen. He gladly points to
his counterpart on the Red Wings as the epitome of the
perfect defenseman. “Nick Lidstrom makes it look easy,
but there’s a reason – he’s never caught in a bad spot.”
As a veteran who played six seasons with the
Atlanta Thrashers and one with the Toronto Maple
Leafs, Exelby knows his play will be scrutinized by the
younger players who aspire to reach the NHL, and
he’s fine with the attention.
“The older I get, the more I want to be a leader and
good mentor to pay it back,” he said. “I had a lot of

Exelby has played 408 games in the NHL
with the Atlanta Thrashers and
Toronto Maple Leafs.

good examples to follow when I was younger and I think
it really helped me.”
He is thankful for the example set by his parents. His
father, a pharmaceutical sales rep, and his mother, an
auditor for Revenue Canada, worked hard to provide for
Exelby, his brother Danny and sister Whitney.
“They were always completely supportive,” he said.
“They were always there for me and to take me to my
little hockey tournaments and games. You hear these
nightmare stories of parents getting into altercations
with coaches and other parents, but they never yelled
and screamed. All that mattered was that I was having
fun.”
One of the biggest influences on his career was the
late Brad McCrimmon, the former NHL defenseman
and Red Wings assistant coach who was killed in the
Russian airplane crash last September that claimed the
Lokomotiv Yaroslavl hockey team, including former
Griffins Pavol Demitra, Karel Rachunek and Stefan Liv.
McCrimmon, who was known as “Beast” for his gruff
demeanor, was a keen and confident coach who earned
the respect of those who played for him. He was the
coach of the WHL’s Saskatoon Blades during Exelby’s
first two years in junior hockey.
The pair were reunited in Atlanta, where
McCrimmon served as an assistant coach from 2003-08
before joining the Red Wings’ coaching staff under Mike
Babcock.
“He made me a pro before I even had a chance to
become a pro, which allowed me to hit the ground
running,” Exelby said. “I was lucky enough to play for
him again in Atlanta, and it’s still hard to believe he’s
gone. He seemed so indestructible.”
Exelby also learned a lot from current Toronto
Marlies head coach Dallas Eakins, an NHL journeyman
who was his senior by 14 years and who served as his
first defensive partner in Chicago.

ROAD WARRIOR
Garnet Exelby got married last summer. He and his wife Kate hope
to find time to go on their honeymoon this coming summer, although
they have already done their share of travel.
In the summer of 2008, for example, they took a five-week
odyssey to Dubai, Egypt, Italy and Croatia. Staying at hostels and
budget hotels, they embraced an “Amazing Race”
mindset, making arrangements on the fly, often
booking only their airfare in advance.
“You want to see everything when you go
on these trips and you never can because it’s
impossible,” he said. “You rank what you
want to see and do the best you can.”
Here are his off-the-cuff impressions:
“Dubai was quite interesting. I
thought it was a long way to go for
a place that is really trying to be
like here. It was a lot like going
to South Florida. They had a

24 Grand Rapids Griffins

black diamond ski hill in a mall there and that was a lot of fun.
You can’t say there are a lot of places in the world with something
like that.”
“In Egypt, we went almost everywhere on the Nile from top
to bottom. It’s incredible to see how much has taken place in that
country: from the invention of paper to the mathematics that
allowed them to build those incredible structures 5,000 years ago,
it’s amazing.”
“Italy was fun. To see in person things like the Sistine Chapel,
Saint Peter’s Basilica and Vatican City – all those places you
see in the movies or on TV – is incredible, and to see the scale
of the artwork is pretty amazing. We waited three hours to see
Michelangelo’s David and it was worth it.”
“Croatia was my favorite place of all. It’s this very naturally
beautiful country that got a bad name from the turmoil with the
former Yugoslavia and the conflict with Bosnia. The beaches are
beautiful and their national parks are incredible. It was a great
way to wind down the trip.”

“Dallas helped me so much,” Exelby said. “We
played so well together that at some point they
wouldn’t pair us in training camps because they
wanted me to learn to play with other people. He was
definitely a good influence on me.”
Exelby has very fond memories of his rookie season
in Chicago. “It was one of my favorite years,” he said.
“Chicago’s a great organization and I got treated very
well. Winning a championship there was incredible.”
Being so young, Exelby said he didn’t appreciate
at the time how difficult it really is to win a title. To
illustrate his point, Exelby said he has been in the
playoffs only twice in the ensuing decade.
He would like nothing better than to change his luck
this season. He knows if he can help the Griffins win
a championship, it might do more than look good on
his resume.
“I still relish the idea of playing in the NHL and I’d
like the chance to get back there,” he said. “In the short
term, I want to try to be a good example here, but at the
same time you never want
to give up that fight because
once you do, you might find
out you don’t have a job in
any league.
“You always want to
keep pushing to play in the
NHL.”

DISHING IT OUT

When Exelby travels, he tries to eat the local food as
much as possible. “Even if it’s something that nobody would
eat here, I’ll try it,” he said. His wife, who studied abroad
and has traveled to close to 50 countries, doesn’t share his
culinary interest. “She’s a vegetarian anyway, so her choices
would be limited.”
What are some of the more exotic entrées he’s tried?
“In Iceland, I ate horse meat, which is not something you
find here. It wasn’t too bad, but I kept thinking about eating
a horse, so I couldn’t get my head around it.
“One of the big things in Iceland is bird-watching,
especially puffin, but I couldn’t really eat it, so I settled on
this other sea bird called the guillemot. It’s comparable to
puffin. If you’ve ever had ostrich, it’s a bit liver-like. Lots of
iron. It was alright – I didn’t mind it.”
“In Croatia, I had a black ink squid risotto. They use
the ink sac of the squid as a sauce. It’s got quite a strong
fish taste to it. I’m not sure if I enjoyed that one or not. I
definitely gave it a good shot.”

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26 Grand Rapids Griffins

Dollar Beers and Hot Dogs: Every Friday, enjoy $1 hot dogs
and $1 domestic drafts from 6-8 p.m., while supplies last.
Get in the D-ZONE: Every Friday night is a Griffins WGRD
D-Zone night. Avoid the concession lines and get your
$1 beers and $1 hot dogs served to you in your seats! Call
774-4585 ext. 2 or visit griffinshockey.com/dzone to get your
tickets today!
College Nights: Every Friday, college students can show their
ID to purchase a lower bowl ticket for $13 (or $11 in advance
at The Zone) and stop by the McFadden’s concourse table to
receive a free pass to the post-game party at McFadden’s.

Free Ride Friday on The Rapid: Ride the Rapid to and from
any Friday game and enjoy a complimentary fare by showing
your ticket to that night’s game. Visit ridetherapid.org for
schedule information, routes and maps.
Wednesday is Hockey Night: Before and after every
Wednesday home game through February, show your ticket
to that night’s game to receive great food and drink specials
at participating Arena District restaurants and bars, including
Peppino’s Sports Lounge, home of the Griffins’ Wednesday
post-game parties. Visit griffinshockey.com/hockeynight for
a list of participating restaurants.
Winning Wednesday presented by Amway: Every time the
Griffins win at home on Wednesday, each fan in attendance
will receive a free ticket to the next Wednesday game.
Additionally, the first 300 fans to visit the Amway table in
Section A will receive a free t-shirt.

Sunday is Fun Day!: Every Sunday, purchase $1 Pepsi drinks
from 4-6 p.m. Enjoy live music from Jaded 8 and the J&H
Family Stores Post-Game Skate.
Senior Sunday presented by MapleCreek Senior Living:
Every Sunday, fans 55 and older with ID can purchase a Lower
Level Center Ice ticket for $15 and play bingo in the arena
banquet room from 4-5 p.m.

Mar. 17

Library Nights: For every Sunday and Wednesday game, fans
can present their Grand Rapids Public Library card or Kent
District Library card at the Van Andel Arena box office on the
night of the game or at The Zone anytime during the store’s
regular business hours to save $7 off the price of a Lower Level
Faceoff ticket (regularly $18 in advance and $20 day of game).
Limit four tickets per card per person, subject to availability.

Fan 4 Packs: For select games, receive four tickets and $12 in
concession cash for a great low price. Valid for games on Feb.
11 and March 17 and 31. Visit griffinshockey.com/f4p or call
(616) 774-4585 ext. 2.
J&H Family Stores Post-Game Skates: Feb. 4, 11 and 12;
March 3, 17 and 31; and April 13
Huntington Bank Post-Game Autograph Sessions: Feb. 4,
12 and 18; and March 17
MOS Corner Office presented by Michigan Office Solutions:
Located on the terrace level above section 118, this section
provides the best seats in the house for groups of up to 30
people, with La-Z-Boy chairs and an array of amenities. Call
(616) 774-4585.
All promotions and dates subject to change.
For more information, visit griffinshockey.com.

The more minutes
under his belt, the
more likely that
center Joakim
Andersson will
earn a job in
Detroit.

Nyquist was a fourth-round
pick of the Red Wings in the
2008 NHL Entry Draft.

If there’s one thing that works to the advantage of a
young hockey player, it’s time.
For Swedish prospect Joakim Andersson, who turns
just 23 on Feb. 5, it means everything.
Time to improve his English. Time to get more
comfortable with living in a new country. Time to
adapt to smaller rinks and a more physical style of
hockey. Time to improve his skating and quickness.
Time to strengthen his play at both ends of the
ice. Time to teach his teammates how to correctly
pronounce his name.
“It’s ‘you-uh-kim,’” said the affable Andersson, who
hears his name pronounced “joke-im” time after time;
so often, in fact, that he is resigned to living with the
American pronunciation.
Now in his second season with the Griffins,
Andersson is starting to show why the Detroit Red
Wings selected him in the third round (88th overall) in
the 2007 NHL Entry Draft.
Andersson is the all-time leader in international
games played for the Swedish national team. He has
four major international tournaments on his resume,
starting with the 2006 IIHF World U18 Championship.
He helped Sweden win a bronze medal at the 2007
version of the same tournament, then boosted his
homeland to a silver medal at the 2008 World Junior
Championship when he tallied six assists in six games.

Andersson was an alternate captain of the Swedish
team at the 2009 World Junior Championship, once
again taking home a silver medal. Centering his team’s
second line, he recorded three goals and three assists in
six contests.
Not surprisingly, he treasures his time spent playing
on the international stage.
“It’s helped me a lot,” he said. “Playing against the
best guys in your age group in the world is a great
experience and a lot of fun. We didn’t win, but we came
close twice by making it to the finals. When you get to
play in a final (game), you learn what it’s all about.”
Andersson also values his time in the Swedish
Elite League, playing for Frölunda, a professional
ice hockey club based in Gothenburg, located on
the west coast of Sweden alongside the North Sea.
He had played two full seasons and a part of another
in Sweden’s top league by the time he was 21. “When
I got brought up to the big club, I had more of a
defensive role than I had in the second division, and it
helped make me a stronger defensive player,” he said.
Andersson credits his strong two-way play in
Frölunda to the coaching of Ulf Dahlén, who played
14 seasons in the NHL with the New York Rangers,
Minnesota North Stars, Dallas Stars, San Jose Sharks,
Chicago Blackhawks and Washington Capitals.
“He taught me a lot about faceoffs,” Andersson said.

30 Grand Rapids Griffins

“We also had a lot of veteran centermen during my
three years there.”
Andersson felt he had paid his dues in Sweden by
the time he signed a three-year entry-level contract
with the Red Wings in 2010. He talked to a cousin,
Fredrik Johansson, who played for the AHL’s
Springfield Falcons as an Edmonton Oilers prospect a
couple of years earlier.
“I looked up to him and I wanted to do the same
thing,” said Andersson, who chose hockey over soccer
when he was 14. “There really never was any question
of whether I was going to play hockey instead of
soccer.”
His cousin warned him that the transition would
not be easy and that it would take time to adjust. In
fact, Johansson eventually returned to Sweden after
one season.
“He told me that it was a long season with a lot
of games, and that it was a big difference between
here and home,” Andersson said. “He also talked
about the smaller rinks, that it was more physical
and that you were expected to shoot more.”
Indeed, playing an 80-game schedule was the
greatest challenge for Andersson, who played in all but
one of the Griffins’ games during his rookie season.
“You’ve got to prepare yourself, both physically
and mentally,” he said. “We never play three weekend
games in Sweden. We hardly play back-to-back games,
except for once or twice in a season. It was a big
adjustment.”
Andersson learned to sleep on 10-hour bus rides
to places like Rochester, N.Y. “You don’t get as much

At the midpont of the season, Andersson
had scored more goals than he did
during his entire rookie year.

sleep as you would like, so you have to figure out how
to save energy, how to sleep on the bus,” he said.
The 2010-11 season, his first with the Griffins, was
an exercise in time management, learning to make the
most of his minutes, both on the ice and off.
He admits that he discovered that he had a lot to
learn. “Last year, I was a little up and down,” he said.
“I had some good periods, but I wanted to be more
consistent.”
His play this year has demonstrated that his rookie
year was time well spent. By the midpoint of the season,
he had already topped his goal total from a year earlier
and matched his points, in half as many games.
“Andersson has probably been our most consistent
forward,” said Griffins head coach Curt Fraser. “He’s
played well in a lot of different situations, and he’s been
contributing offensively as well as defensively.”
Fraser has rewarded his young center with more
minutes, putting him on the ice during critical
situations, including the final minutes of close games,
and by naming him an alternate captain.
“He’s done a very good job since the day he first
got here,” Fraser said. “He’s improved a lot and he
continues to get better and better, which is why he got a
chance to play with the Red Wings.”
Andersson was promoted to Detroit on Dec. 27 and
saw action in four games before returning to Grand
Rapids in early January.
“Of course, I had hoped to play some games (in the
NHL), so it was good news when Curt told me that I
was going to get called up. It was our first morning on
the ice after our Christmas break, so it was like a late
Christmas present. I called my dad and he spread the
news. I got a lot of texts and calls after that.”
Andersson made his debut in a 3-2 win over the St.
Louis Blues at Joe Louis Arena. Although he played
only eight shifts, logging 5:10 of ice time, he made a
good impression.
“He’s been here at a few camps and he’s working
his way into being an NHL pro,” remarked Red Wings
coach Mike Babcock. “He’s a big body, real good
instincts. He’s probably going to be a third- or fourthline center (eventually).”
Andersson was excited to get an opportunity to play
in Detroit so early in his career.
“It was a special feeling to put on the Red Wings
jersey and skate onto the Joe,” he said. “I was a little
nervous the first game, but when the puck dropped and
I got in a shift, I felt comfortable right away.”
Wearing the #63 that he was given in his first
training camp, Andersson stayed in Detroit for three
more games, eventually playing on a line with two
other players with Griffins ties – rookies Gustav
Nyquist and Cory Emmerton.
“I think we played pretty well and created some
chances,” Andersson said, a feeling echoed by the
Red Wings coach. “I thought the Emmerton line was
good,” Babcock said after unveiling his all-rookie line.
“Nyquist gave us a spark; Andersson was good, made
good decisions.”
Grand Rapids Griffins 31

A strong two-way player, Andersson is one
of the Griffins’ best faceoff men.
There is little question that Andersson is a better
player this season than he was a year ago. Whether
it’s a matter of minutes or shooting more, he’s
putting the puck into the net at a brisker clip.
“I feel like I’m in the right spots more. Last year
I had a hard time getting to the net because the ‘D’
here are bigger and stronger. Now I’m finding my
way to the net. Almost all of my goals are rebounds or
tips around the net. I love battling around the net.”

Andersson knows he will need to continue
to improve to earn more minutes in Detroit.
He is determined to ensure that his skating
isn’t the issue that holds him back.
“Since I was 13, people have told me that I
need to become a better and faster skater, but
I work hard in the summer and do workouts
during the season to keep getting quicker. I know
I’m not going to be a great skater, but I don’t
think it’s a concern. I’ll keep working on it.”
He would love to earn a job in Detroit next season,
when the Red Wings are likely to host the 2013 Winter
Classic on New Year’s Day at Michigan Stadium.
Andersson played in the first outdoor game in
Sweden, the 2009 Swedish Elite League Outdoor
Classic. His team beat archrival Farjestads BK, 4-1,
in front of 31,144 fans, which set the attendance
record for a European game at the time.
He remembers having goosebumps at the start,
although it may have been the weather’s doing. “It
was freezing cold,” he said. “It was a lot of fun to
play outdoors in front
of a good crowd.”
Taking a regular shift
with the Red Wings’ large
Swedish contingent is
something that he’s long
dreamt about. He figures
it’s just a matter of time.

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Watermark Properties provides three delicious dining options in the Grand Rapids
area. Relax in a casual bistro-style restaurant, bar or dine outside on one of our
patios while enjoying affordable, fresh, award-winning cuisine. Dine with family or
friends and take in the beautiful golf course views.

Membership for kids 12 and under includes:
• Official Kids Club t-shirt
• Free ticket to a Griffins game
• Members-only Kids Club
parties
• Monthly newsletters
and contests
• And more!
38 Grand Rapids Griffins

For more information, visit
the Griffins Kids Club Booth
located at the top of the
stairs near section 101,
go to griffinshockey.com,
or call (616) 774-4585 ext. 3047.

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OPPORTUNITY

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The Griffins Youth Foundation
gives kids of all types a
chance to play hockey.
The Urban family’s introduction to the Griffins came
Daniel Urban is not your average ice
through the organization’s summer reading initiative,
hockey player, nor is he your typical kid.
which provides ticket vouchers to local libraries as rewards
The 11-year-old boy has Asperger’s syndrome,
for kids who complete summer reading programs.
which is an autism spectrum disorder found in
“We all went, and from the first game we were hooked,”
otherwise normally functioning children who
Adrienne said. “It was so much fun and we liked the family
encounter difficulties in social interaction and exhibit
atmosphere, and now Daniel lives for the Griffins.”
restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior.
It was at a game at Van Andel Arena where the
You might not expect to find someone like Daniel
Urbans learned about the opportunities that the Griffins
even skating on the ice, let alone playing hockey on a team
Youth Foundation provides
with others. Kids with Asperger’s
for kids to play at Griff’s
syndrome can be socially awkward
IceHouse at Belknap Park.
or physically clumsy, not exactly
Established in 1995, the
a positive prescription for playing
Griffins Youth Foundation
a challenging game like hockey.
promotes academic excellence,
Thanks to the Grand Rapids
community involvement
Griffins Youth Foundation, Daniel
and healthy lifestyles among
is getting the opportunity to not
the youth of West Michigan,
only enjoy the sport he loves, but
enhancing their lives through
also to excel beyond expectations.
hockey and ice-related sports.
During a youth hockey game on
“We try to provide
a recent Saturday, Daniel celebrated
opportunities for kids who would
scoring three goals on the same
never be able to participate in a
shift, an incredible accomplishment
pay-to-play program,” said Lynn
for anyone, especially someone who
Rabaut, executive director of
could barely skate when he started.
the Griffins Youth Foundation.
“It’s an amazing opportunity,”
“We look for children who
said Daniel, who is in his second
have a barrier to play, whether
year in the program but his first
it’s gender, a medical issue, a
playing alongside his six-yearlearning disability, or financial
old brother Gabriel. “I wouldn’t
or emotional hardship.”
be able to play if not for the
In the Griffins Youth
Griffins Youth Foundation.”
Foundation hockey program,
His progress has been very
there are diverse kids of all
encouraging to his parents – David,
colors and types, from the
an associate professor of English
hearing impaired to a child
at Calvin College, and Adrienne,
Daniel
Urban
(left)
poses
with
his
parents,
David
with an insulin pump to
the author of a healthy living
and
Adrienne,
and
his
little
brother,
Gabriel.
autistic kids like Daniel.
blog (wholenewmom.com) who
“We want to make sure
also homeschools her two boys.
that children – who wouldn’t have an opportunity
“It’s done great things for Daniel because he had
elsewhere – get the chance to play,” Rabaut said.
never played a sport,” the boys’ father said. “Just to be
“Other leagues are not in a position to accept the
able to realize he can contribute to a team is a big deal.”
type of players we embrace. We try to provide an
“It means almost everything to him,” his mother
atmosphere where kids can come in and learn to play.”
acknowledged. “It’s been pretty unbelievable.”
40 Grand Rapids Griffins

Children with
That opportunity
Asperger’s syndrome
starts with providing
often display traits
good mentors.
that cause them to be
“A lot of our kids
abnormally intense or
need the personal
focused. They become
guidance that our
incredibly interested
coaches have time to
in one thing, almost to
give,” Rabaut said.
the point of obsession.
“We’re providing
“The first thing
an opportunity to
in the morning, he’s
play where none
reading the score
might have existed,
sheets and articles
while encouraging a
from the Internet,”
positive atmosphere
Adrienne said. “He’ll
that promotes and
call his dad and tell
supports ideals
him who’s injured,
like sportsmanship
who’s moving up
and teamwork.”
and moving down.
It’s a healthy
Learning
to
play
hockey
has
been
an
awesome
experience
for
The Griffins are a
environment for
Daniel
Urban,
who
has
Asperger’s
syndrome.
big deal to him.”
kids like Daniel,
In addition
who would struggle
to attending Griffins games at Van Andel Arena,
in other programs if they even were afforded the
the Urban family watches practices at Griff’s
opportunity to play. “His coaches last year and
IceHouse, which has allowed Daniel and his
again this year have helped him a lot,” David said.
brother to even meet a number of the players.
“They give him the affirmation he needs.”
“This is incredibly fun for me,” said Daniel, who also
Daniel doesn’t need much affirmation when it comes
enjoys writing a weekly essay for his coach, fulfilling the
to following the exploits of his favorite team. His mother
program’s homework requirement. He is excited that
calls him the “Rain Man of the Griffins,” noting that he
the Griffins Youth Foundation will expand its hockey
not only can recite the names of all the players and their
Graffiti 2011-2012.pdf 1 9/16/2011 10:44:35 AM
program to 12th grade this fall. “If my parents allow me
numbers, but can quote the three stars from a specific
to keep playing, I plan on playing for a long time.”
game, or recall the goaltender from a certain date.

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Grand Rapids Griffins 41

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Service provider for the Van
Andel Arena is teaming up with
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of the Restaurant located on the
lower level of the Arena. This
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atmosphere that the Fifth Third
Bank Vault has to present.
Please join us in celebrating this
partnership by cutting out the
coupon in this ad. Be sure to make
your reservations in advance as
space is limited.

42 Grand Rapids Griffins

INVITES YOU TO DINE
IN AT VAN ANDEL ARENA

`

SAVOR...

$2.00 off any regularly priced
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regularly priced item.

Not valid towards alcohol or other beverages.
Advance reservations required.
Call 616.742.6231 or e-mail 53BankVault@smggr.com
Expires 4/9/12
Must present original coupon to server at time of order
Not valid with other coupons or offers.

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Grand Rapids Griffins 43

AMPLIFYING TALENTS

Story and photos by Mark Newman

Story and photos
by Mark Newman

Brian Lashoff enjoys playing the blues, but he has no
interest in singing them.
When the young defenseman reported for training
camp this past fall, he was anxious to put last year behind
him. He had no desire to turn a frustrating season of
shoulder and ankle injuries into a refrain.
“I don’t think I’ve ever gone through a year like that,”
Lashoff said. “I can look back at it now because I came out
of it in a good way. I got physically stronger and mentally
tougher.”
Not being able to skate might have made him a better
guitar player – he’s been plugging in an electric guitar since
he was 11 – but it put him no closer to his dream of playing
on the NHL stage.
Limited to 37 games a year ago due to injuries, Lashoff
added a few pounds and trained with his older brother
Matt, a defenseman in the Toronto Maple Leafs’ system, in
an effort to get bigger and stronger.
At age 21, he is still a raw talent, but he’s no less
motivated to prove all those scouts wrong.
Passed over by every team in the annual NHL draft,
Lashoff was signed by the Red Wings in 2008 after he
impressed the organization with a strong performance as a
free agent invitee to the team’s camp.
It was an unforgettable opportunity – he sat between
Nicklas Lidstrom and Brian Rafalski in the Red Wings’
dressing room – and he became determined to show that
all those other teams had made a mistake.
His brother, a first-round pick of the Boston Bruins in
2005, helped keep him focused when he wasn’t playing.
“I talked a lot with Matt,” Lashoff said of his brother,
who is nearly four years older. “He’s young, but he’s played
44 Grand Rapids Griffins

Defenseman
Brian Lashoff
is making
noise this
season by
playing to his
strengths.

a long time and he’s been hurt and had his ups and downs,
so he was someone I could talk to when I was injured or
not in the lineup.
“As brothers, we’re close, and he made me feel better
about things. He let me know it wasn’t the end of the
world, and he encouraged me to use it as a positive and to
grow stronger as a person and a hockey player.”
Lashoff has indeed become stronger.
At the 2011-12 season’s midway point, he had already
scored six goals after recording exactly zero a year ago. He
also scored a goal in three consecutive games, something
he had never done in his career.
“I’m shooting the puck a lot more, which is the big
thing,” he said. “I talked to the coaches and it’s something
they want me to do, especially on the power play. I want to
be a guy with a hard shot who can get the puck on net and
give myself and the other guys a chance to score.”
His defensive play is also stronger. “I’m moving my feet
a lot more,” he said. “Obviously, being a D-man, I want to
take care of my own area first, but being able to contribute
offensively is huge if you want to get to the next level. I
want to be a two-way guy who can contribute at both ends
of the ice.”
Last year was a disappointment because he came
into the year with high expectations. He had a six-game
audition with the Griffins at the close of each of his final
two years in junior hockey.
In the 2009 Calder Cup Playoffs, he tallied a goal and
four assists in eight games for the Griffins before getting
injured against Manitoba. He also won a goal medal with
Team USA at the 2010 World Junior Championship,
besting host Canada with a thrilling 6-5 overtime victory.

“Winning a gold medal was probably the highlight of my
career so far,” Lashoff said. “Being able to do it was pretty
amazing, and accomplishing it in Canada made it even more
rewarding. It’s something I will remember for the rest of
my life.”
He also has fond memories of the tail end of last season
when he was selected to be a “black ace” during the first
round of the Red Wings’ Stanley Cup Playoff run.
Having the opportunity to practice with the team
provided a big boost of confidence after what he had gone
through during his injury-plagued season.
“It was awesome,” Lashoff said. “Going through a season
like I did was tough, but to experience the playoffs and
practice with the guys up there was very rewarding.
“To be able to extend my season was definitely
helpful, too.”
The experience helped jump start his preparation for
this season, which has seen the tables turned on the Lashoff
brothers. Matt tore his ACL in mid-November and is likely
out for the season.
It’s an ironic twist for the siblings, who may someday be
hockey’s version of the Allman Brothers. Their father, Bob,
used to play in rock bands and taught his sons how to play
guitar when they were growing up in East Greenbush, N.Y.,
near Albany.
“My dad gave us the opportunity to play a lot of sports
– hockey, baseball, lacrosse – but he also showed us how to
play guitar. During summers, Matt and I skate and work out
hard in the morning, then play music the rest of the day.
“We love playing, whether it’s with our dad and his
friends, or just my brother and me playing in the backyard
or on the porch. It’s an outlet for us. Some guys play video
games, we play guitars.”

Lashoff was undrafted, but he was signed by
the Red Wings as a free agent in 2008.

7th ANNUAL

SLED HOCKEY GAME
TUES., FEB.

28

6:00-8:30 P.M.

Griff's IceHouse at Belknap Park / 30 Coldbrook NE
Come watch the Grand Rapids Griffins play a spirited game
of sled hockey against the Grand Rapids Sled Wings, a
talented team of physically challenged teenagers

Lashoff practiced with the Red Wings as a “black
ace” during the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

In fact, Matt recently released his first CD, “Living on
Heart,” which will definitely surprise people.
Loren Harriet, who helped Yankees outfielders Bernie
Williams and Nick Swisher make albums, produced the
CD, which features an all-star cast of musicians.
Recorded in New Jersey, the sessions included
drummer Kenny Aronoff, who has played with John
Mellencamp and John Fogerty; bassist Leland Sklar, who
has played with almost everybody, from Jackson Browne to
James Taylor; and keyboardist David Sancious, who was an
original member of Bruce Springsteen’s E Street Band.
“They’re some of the best in the world at what they
do and it was pretty amazing to watch them work,” said
Lashoff, who spent a weekend in the studio. “They all were
so professional and to hear them laying down their tracks
was really cool.”
Lashoff was even invited by his brother to play guitar
on one track (“Something I Know”). The record includes
original songs as well as covers of Bo Diddley’s “Before
You Accuse Me” and Little Feat’s “Cold, Cold, Cold.”
While his brother is already planning on recording
a second album, Lashoff has no illusions about his own
prospects.
“Playing music is
something I love to do
outside of hockey, but it’s
a hobby,” he said. “Right
now I’m more focused on
hockey and I’m all about
trying to make it to the
NHL. That’s my main goal.”

Overseas Success
A number of former Griffins have
enjoyed success over the years playing
in Europe’s top hockey leagues.

Credit: Eishockey.info

Playing for the Grand Rapids Griffins, or any of the
his ninth season in the top Swiss league, where he has
other 29 AHL teams, is not an automatic ticket to the
been the model of consistency. Roest has recorded
National Hockey League, but it is the surest path to
goal totals of 17, 17, 16, 14, 16, 17, 15 and 14 over the
the realization of countless dreams.
past eight years.
Since the Griffins’ first season in 1996-97, a total
One of Roest’s teammates with the Griffins was
of 123 different players - 17 goalies and 106 skaters
Michigan State University product Bryan Adams, who
- have gone on to play at least one game in the NHL.
is now in his ninth season in Germany.
Many have stuck for longer, but there has been a large
Adams has played with several former Griffins
number of former Griffins who have found greater
in Germany, including Sean Tallaire, who played
success on other stages across the globe.
nine seasons there before retiring in 2010, and Ivan
Goaltender Ian Gordon, for example, was a
Ciernik, who spent six years in Germany and one in
member of the Griffins during the team’s first three
Russia before moving to Sweden this season.
seasons (1996Ciernik is
1999). Although
hardly the only
he never played a
well-traveled
game in the NHL,
former Griffin.
he has found
Nathan
great success in
Robinson, who
Germany’s top
played for the
league, where he
Griffins from 2002
is currently in his
to 2005, spent five
12th season.
seasons in the top
Gordon
German league
was a fixture
before moving
in net for the
to Sweden last
Frankfurt Lions,
year and now
taking the club
to Austria this
to the German
season.
Goaltender Ian Gordon led the Frankfurt Lions to
title in his first
Jeff Ulmer, who
the German championship in 2004.
season with the
played in Grand
team when he
Rapids during
set a playoff record with three straight shutouts. He
the 2001-02 season, has played parts of five years in
remained in Frankfurt until 2010 when the team
Germany, three years in Sweden, two years in Russia
folded due to financial difficulties, then signed with
and one year in the United Kingdom.
Ingolstadt, with whom he currently plays.
Blake Sloan, who was the captain of the Griffins
While the Griffins have been a stepping stone
during the 2004-05 season, tried his luck in Sweden
to the Red Wings for players like Niklas Kronwall,
for a year before finding a home in Germany, where
Valtteri Filppula, Jiri Hudler, Darren Helm and
he has played the last six seasons.
recently named NHL all-star goaltender Jimmy
Germany has been a favorite destination for a
Howard, there have been others like Gordon who
number of ex-Griffins, including Hugo Boisvert (eight
have found their fortune overseas.
seasons and counting), Rob Collins (six and counting)
Stacy Roest played for the 2002-03 Griffins and
and Todd Hlushko (six seasons).
appeared in 244 NHL games with the Red Wings and
Erich Goldmann, who played for the Griffins
Minnesota Wild. The hard-working center is now in
during the 1999-2000 season, when he appeared
50 Grand Rapids Griffins

in one NHL game with the Ottawa
Senators, returned to his native
Germany and played eight more
years before retiring in 2008.
Like Goldmann, there have been
other European players who have
returned to their homelands for the
opportunity to build long careers.
Petr Schastlivy was one of the
Ottawaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s top prospects when he
played for the Griffins from 200002. After 129 NHL contests with
the Senators and Anaheim Mighty
Ducks, Schastlivy returned to
Russia, where he has played the last
eight seasons.
Stacy Roest has become a fixture in the top professional
Konstantin Gorovikov played
league in Switzerland.
two seasons with the Griffins (19992001) before returning to Russia,
Mike Fountain, who won 55 games over his two
where he has played the last 11 seasons.
seasons with the Griffins (1999-2001), spent seven
Maxim Spiridonov was an all-star with the
seasons in Russia. He led the league in goals-against
Griffins during the 1998-99 season, then bounced
average during his first season there, breaking the
around the AHL with Springfield and Hamilton for
all-time Russian shutout record with 14 in 43 starts.
a couple of seasons before heading back to Russia.
Marc Lamothe, who posted an impressive 54Outside of a single-season detour to Sweden,
34-13 record during his two seasons in Grand
Spiridonov has spent the past 11 years playing in
Rapids (2002-04), played five years in Russia before
his native land.
finishing his career with stints in Sweden and
Russia became the adopted home of a pair of
Germany.
former Griffins goaltenders.

Grand Rapids Griffins 51

52 Grand Rapids Griffins

Grand Rapids Griffins 53

Van andEL institUtE thanks
thE grand rapids griffins for thEir
coMMitMEnt to cancEr rEsEarch.
purple games bring communities together to raise awareness, celebrate
survivors, honor loved ones who have passed away, and support research
that gives hope to patients and families around the world.
Learn more about cancer research and hosting your own game
at www.vai.org.

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One of Michigan’s premier golf destinations.
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- Places to Play”
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Our beautiful Rees Jones signature course is
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see for yourself why this stunning jewel has
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Thousand Oaks is a name synonymous with attention to detail, sumptuous dining and
unblemished nature. Once reserved for small parties and business meetings, Thousand
Oaks now presents Grand Oaks Banquet and Meeting Facility to accommodate
gatherings of all sizes. Nestled into a private, 425-acre setting, yet just minutes from
Downtown Grand Rapids, Grand Oaks Banquet Facility offers a refreshing alternative
for meetings, receptions, and private parties. From the intimate setting of the Birch Room that seats 60 Guests, the expanse of
the Grand Oaks Hall that accommodates up to 350 persons, Grand Oaks Banquet Facility can meet most reception needs in
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Year-round Golf Lessons.
Join the Academy!
Call 616-363-GOLF

More than a great place to
visit–it’s a great place to live.
Grand
Rapids Griffins 63
Call
616-828-6780

VAN ANDEL ARENA

TICKETS
VIP Glass

$32

DAY OF
GAME
$34

Lower Level Preferred

$26

$28

Lower Level Center Ice

$22

$24

Lower Level Faceoff

$18

$20

VIP Edge

$18

$20

Upper Level Preferred

$16

$18

Upper Level

$14

$16

ADVANCE

Suites & Hospitality Areas
Call for pricing and availability

Located at West Michigan Meijer stores,
www.startickets.com or 616.222.4000
THE ZONE Located on the
West side of Van Andel Arena
ONLINE griffinshockey.com
Seats may not be available in all price categories.
For season, game-plan and group ticket information,
call 616.774.4585 or 1.800.2.HOCKEY.

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Grand Rapids Griffins 65

Keep your team healthy.
At Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we believe that being physically
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And why we offer so many different health plans. Choices that allow
you to get exactly the right coverage for you and your family.

Since their inception in 1996, the Griffins have sent
123 players to the National Hockey League, 14 of
whom have gone on to win the Stanley Cup. In fact,
a Griffins alumnus has had his name engraved on
the Cup each of the last four years and in six of the
last seven seasons, with Bostonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Chris Kelly earning
the honor last June.
In chronological order, here are the 17 goalies and
106 skaters who have donned an NHL sweater after
playing for Grand Rapids, along with the dates of
their NHL debuts/returns.
Kevyn Adams, 2006 Carolina

Whether the Griffins are at Van Andel Arena or on the road,
ESPN 96.1 FM will bring it home, live with Bob Kaser
Brought to you by the home for Griffins Hockey:

70 Grand Rapids Griffins

KIDS PAGE
WHERE
IN
THE
WORLD????
Can you match these fun facts with the birthplaces of the Griffins? Good luck!

FACTS
1. Celebrated its 700th anniversary in 2007______
2. Name means “abundant with wild pigeons”______
3. Home of the largest cemetery in the U.S.______
4. Over 98% of its residents speak only French______
5. First Canadian city to host the Winter Olympics______
6. Home of the U.S.’s number-one ranked library______
7. Perforated toilet paper was invented here______
8. Responsible for 37% of the world’s wheat exports______
9. Forty percent of the world’s gold is mined here______
10. Its post office boasts the only chimney
in the world with a window______
11. Site of a monastery during medieval times______
12. Lowest ZIP Code (01001) in the U.S.______
13. Hosts the second-largest barbecue rib festival
in North America______
14. Offers 2.5-hour tours of the world’s largest zinc smelter______
15. Has hosted live thoroughbred racing since 1897______
16. Nearly every tree in this city was planted by hand______
17. Same birthplace as former Griffin Tomas Kopecky______
18. World’s 10th-largest city by population______
19. Kicks off the largest dog sled race in the world, the Iditarod______
20. The northern-most terminal of the Underground Railroad______
21. Birthplace of former NHL great Mike Modano______